+677 60 224
GEOGRAPHY
Gizo hospital is the second largest hospital in the Solomon Islands, being situated at the picturesque water’s edge of the southernmost tip of Gizo Island in the far Western province.
Gizo hospital is within walking distance of the Western coastline with waves from the Solomon Sea suitable for surfing. The Southern coastline is surrounded by reefs and lagoons popular for diving.
HISTORY
Gizo hospital was completely rebuilt with the aid of the Japanese after the 2007 earthquake and tsunami created major devastation to Gizo and the existing hospital. The old Gizo hospital was mainly used for administration and primary health care until July 2016 when it burnt down.
ATTRACTIONS
Gizo hospital is located 100 metres from the ocean & surrounded by many popular diving reefs. Fierce battles during WWII left behind wrecks that are ‘must-dive’ sites now, like the Grand Central Station near Gizo. Kennedy Island, named after JF Kenndery is about 10 minutes by speed boat from Gizo, and only 20 minutes paddle from Fatboys resort. It is a great place to have a BBQ or picnic. Dive Gizo is the only PATI accredited diving company in Gizo, that also do a half day introductory dive for AUD $125. Rarumana is an island, with a sink hole just off its coast with an excellent reef and drop off and is a good place to go fishing, and scuba diving being less than 30 minutes boat ride from Gizo.
FACILITIES
Gizo hospital has all the necessary facilities to make for a comfortable stay with reliable electricity, an ATM at the local ANZ bank, and grocery stores that sell almost everything. Exchanging currency is best done at the ANZ bank located 300metres from Gizo hospital. There are a number of good eateries in Gizo which include PT109 (Named after John F Kennedy’s patrol boat that was rammed and sunk in WWII). Gizo hotel offers Pizza and a relaxing view of the busy markets.
GETTING THERE
Gizo (Nasatupe) airstrip is an island (or is it the other way around?) 5 minutes boat ride from Gizo, and Sanbis resort, and 10 minutes boat ride from Fatboys resort. There are usually one to two flights a day arriving from Honiara. The airstrip is only long enough to land a DASH-8. Taking off from Gizo airport is quite amazing. The surrounding resorts including Fatboys and Sanbis offer boat trips to Gizo hospital. Most of the resorts also pick up and drop off at Gizo (Nasatupe) airport by boat.
ACCOMMODATION
There are numerous accommodation options in Gizo, as well as a number of internationally acclaimed resorts including Sanbis Resort and Fatboys Resort less than 5 and 10 minutes boat ride away from Gizo hospital and airport. For more affordable air-conditioned accommodation at Gizo itself, Rekona Lodge & Gizo Hotel are reasonable options, charging AUD $90 (SBD $700) a night, and both within an easy 5 minutes walking distance from Gizo hospital. The closest and cheapest hotel to Gizo hospital is Naqua hotel offering a reduced rate for volunteers of AUD $50(SBD $300) a night for a double bed room with ensuite and shared kitchen. Dormitory style accommodation (3 beds to a room) costs AUD $25 (SBD $180) per person a night. Naqua hotel is currently DAISI’s preferred accommodation. Judith Kwan can be called on: +677 7611 773 or or emailed Judith Kwan (Manager Naqua Hotel & Aveala Lodge). Make sure you request the airconitioned rooms at Naqua $50/night (or SBD $300) but the best rooms are 30metres from Naqua (just down the hill a little) called Aveala Lodge, which is owned also by the manager of Naqua Judith Kwan. These cost SBD $600 a night and are well worth it. Her email is judithkwan93@gmail.com and her mobile is
0011 677 7472299. She is most easily contacted by messenger.
Because she is the manager and owner of both accommodation and because they are all on the same property Daisi members can still use the Naqua communal kitchen which is a great place for get togethers for meals and team bonding.
HOSPITAL FACILITIES
The new $20 million dollar multi-story Gizo hospital is a state of the art hospital built with further tsunamis in mind with self-draining aqueducts surrounding the hospital. The emergency department and operating theatres is air-conditioned which is a pleasant relief from the tropical humid conditions. There is a comprehensive dental department providing excellent outpatient dental care, as well as an ophthalmology clinic with a slit lamp. The operating theatre is modern and fresh with two operating rooms and anaesthetic machines. Laparoscopic and endoscopic equipment is basic but available for use.
STAFF & CONTACTS
The excellent theatre staff make it a keen destination for visiting surgeons. Specialist wanting to volunteer at Gizo hospital are best to contact or Dr Mike Buin (Head Surgeon) or Supervisor of Medical Students – Gizo Hospital) or Dr James Nuinimae (Supervisor of Medical Officers – Gizo Hospital), or Dr Paul Kekou (Surgical Registrar Gizo Hospital). Dr Una Gagaheis the hospital’a anaesthetic registrar.
Specialists planning to volunteer at Gizo Hospital are best to contact Dr Dikzon Boarao Dikzon Boara (Medical Superintendent – Gizo Hospital), Soraya Pina (Hospital Secretary), or Karen Kiko (Spervisor Overseas Specialists Visits) via email.
Director of Nursing is or Henrieta Jagilly who is integral to the running of the hospital and coordinating DAISI visits.
SCHOOLING
For longer term volunteers with children, there are basic primary and secondary school options at Gizo. The local government public schools are Gizo Community High School.
Catholic schooling options include St John Bosco which has a Primary school, Junior Secondary and Senior Secondary school. Wryn Bennett is in charge of education and can be contacted by email via the Catholic Diocese head office email address: admin@catholicgizo.org
